NSW - do you need Boxing Day trade?

mskeggs on 26/12/2016 - 21:59

This year is the second year of unrestricted Boxing Day trade in NSW.There will be a report in the new year as to whether it continues.

Prior, the rules allowed hospitality, and retail in "tourist" areas, but other retailers were regulated to be closed.

The argument for it is convenience and a vibe of increased custom. The argument against is that the increased custom would occur on other days and people should have a two day break at Xmas.

My own view is that the convenience is useful, but I can see a two day break is very desirable. I think the increased custom idea is nonsense - I don't suddenly have more money to spend if the shops are open.

Our family has some retail workers who would have been able to attend Xmas events if they had two days who missed out (because they had to travel far enough to make an overnight necessary).

So I will vote have two days, because of that (disclosure). I personally have a couple of weeks off, and my employer almost insists on a week off, which is another question.

Poll Options expired

  • 3
    Xmas day only
  • 25
    Xmas day and Boxing Day
  • 14
    No regulations at all
  • 2
    An even longer break is desirable.
General Discussion

Comments

  • xoom on 26/12/2016 - 22:33

    Our family has some retail workers who would have been able to attend Xmas events if they had two days who missed out (because they had to travel far enough to make an overnight necessary).

    I dont work in retail but i had to work christmas, boxing day, new years day, australia day.

    Point im making is sometimes it just had to be done. Bills gotta be paid.

    • mskeggs on 26/12/2016 - 23:02
      +1

      I guess the opposite point is that if left unregulated some employers will insist on staff attendance.
      And those staff will have few options but to go to work, even if they had managed their money well to be able to afford a day off with friends and family.
      Since it is a fairly new thing in retail, most staff would have direct experience of being able to budget for Boxing Day off, but most will be amateurs at working out their Xmas affairs with only one day off.

      • xoom on 26/12/2016 - 23:09

        The "bills gotta be paid" comment works both ways.

        • mskeggs on 27/12/2016 - 00:02
          +1

          I don't think it does. I will spend the same in December/January whether I shop on 60 days or 61. Do you spend more if the shop is open? Or do you put off your TV buying to the next day?

        • xoom on 27/12/2016 - 07:36

          @mskeggs: was talking about the cost for running the business.

          Things like rent and other operating costs. They had to be paid. These dont stop simply because shop is closed for business.

          I get you are bummed that your family members can't join for christmas gathering. Perhaps retail or any job (emergency services and any 24/7 offices) that could require anyone to work these times is not the job for them.

          You might not spend anymore for that one extra day but clearly there are others.

        • eatwell365 on 27/12/2016 - 08:15

          @xoom:

          Things like rent and other operating costs. They had to be paid. These dont stop simply because shop is closed

          The holiday operating costs should have already been factored in as ongoing costs which averaged out during the year and added on price customers paid.

          Respect your say, but if every business think the same.
          Every shops should be 7Eleven. Open 24/7 to maximise profit and cost efficiency.
          In some countries, rents are sky high and retail shops/eatery open like 10am to 3am. Staff works like zombies and gets paid peanuts. Profit goes to property investors.

          "Greed never ends".
          Make that once a year special event for friends/family continue to count.
          We are Australia. I am for fair dinkum.

        • xoom on 27/12/2016 - 08:48

          @eatwell365: Never worked in retail. However worked the public holidays in the last two jobs. We get compensated for it ofcourse with higher pay.

          When asked by my friend why i had to work christmas day and new years day. I simply replied its not christmas or new year (differences in timezones) in certain parts of the world in the offices i was responsible for.

          I have nurses in the family that work the public holiday also.

          7/11 was underpaying their staff. I am not advocating for that at all.

        • eatwell365 on 27/12/2016 - 09:09

          @xoom: Make sense if staff are compensated and willing to work on public holidays, for essential services, eg hospital, transport.

  • Cheeper on 26/12/2016 - 22:37
    +1

    Don't need the department stores as you can get by without junk for a day.. but 6-8 hours for the grocers would be good.

  • HardQuiz on 27/12/2016 - 00:24

    Deregulation all the way

  • [Deactivated] on 27/12/2016 - 00:32
    +1

    If a store wants to open on an arbitrary religious holiday why shouldn't they, and why shouldn't I be able to get a good latte on such a day?

  • RockyRaccoon on 27/12/2016 - 06:45
    +2

    Bring it on, my partner works in retail, in a tourist area, and has had to deal with this for 15 years. 12 hours on Christmas Eve and 12 hours on Boxing day.

    Yesterday was like a "normal" day, crowds down and hardly any rude and obnoxious "tourists" demanding things that are sold out. Some in the past even drove from Sydney to return faulty/wrong goods on Boxing day,

    They can now do all that at their local stores.

    Like everyone now wants 50% off to be a bargain. People now take time off to get Lattes, skinny caps, etc rather than wait for the Tea lady with lukewarm Tea and half dissolved Instant roast.

    Life is different and there are two sides of every coin…

  • scotty on 27/12/2016 - 08:08

    I still have to work on Boxing Day, and today… Then again my work involves sitting down in front of computers looking at OzBargain the whole day.

    Regulated or not, some retailers just don't give a @#$& about it. Lots of shops were still opening on Christmas Day (yup, not just Boxing Day) on Anzac Parade in Kingsford — not just Asian takeaways but also grocery shops.

    • xoom on 27/12/2016 - 08:50

      Thats because people got to eat or buy that ingredients they may have forgotten. Businesses see this as money coming in. Why turn it down right?

      • scotty on 27/12/2016 - 09:01
        +2

        As shoppers it certainly adds convenience. For business, it's also just another day to generate revenue from the shop they have already paid / rented for. Moreover there are two Asian grocery stores in Kingsford near the 9-ways roundabout that are notoriously competitive — they can't afford not to open, as what if the other shop stole all the customers?

        However the concern here is for the employees who are not able to take 2 days off.

        • [Deactivated] on 27/12/2016 - 09:13
          +1

          It sounds like everyone is an unskilled employee with no leverage. Not everyone is in a deadend job with an awful boss. If Christmas is important to you and your family, negotiate time off, if its not grab some extra bucks. This may come as a big surprise to you, but not everyone celebrates xmas, but atm everyone is forced to celebrate and revere it. I am of no religion, and am not a hypocrite, so I do not observe the religious nature of the day. I am a bit with Borderlands 2 on this one - its Mercenary day, and as such, people should have the opportunity to be as mercenary AF.

        • xoom on 27/12/2016 - 09:23

          @stormii: Yeah agree. People forget that not everyone celebrates xmas. The oporto nearby is open during the xmas and boxing day. Shall we boycott them because they are enslaving their staff making them work these two days?

          Last i checked they ask staff who wants to work these days.

        • [Deactivated] on 27/12/2016 - 09:42

          @xoom: My son is not crying about making 2 weeks wage in 3 days, my daughter has spent about the same amount treating herself to a trip for the occasion. Depends what you want from the day.

        • xoom on 27/12/2016 - 09:47

          @stormii: Those greedy corporations. They must be stopped. How dare they pay your son 2 weeks wages in 3 days when they could be celebrating the holidays at home instead.

          /sarcasm

        • [Deactivated] on 27/12/2016 - 09:49

          @xoom: Yeah, he was in such a state when I took him to town yesterday to show him the things I found on his list, and knowing the pay he had coming was so sad when he could just pay for it all and not leave anything behind.

    • eatwell365 on 27/12/2016 - 09:14

      Many of those shops close during Chinese/Lunar New Year instead.

      No public holiday surcharge,

      • [Deactivated] on 27/12/2016 - 09:47

        I am pretty sure they observe different cultural beliefs than the western calendar recognizes, so they take different days off to celebrate their rituals and customs with family, I could be wrong.

  • cheapisgood on 27/12/2016 - 10:13

    Shops can be opened in Victoria for a very long time and it was worked well. No reason why NSW should be restricted on Boxing Day. If you want to open the shop you can, if you want another day off, don't open. Simple

    Too much regulation isn't the way.

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